MAYWOOD, Ill -- January 26, 2009 -- A study suggests that people trying to lower their blood pressure should also boost their intake of potassium, which has the opposite effect to sodium. The study is published in the January issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Researchers found that the ratio of sodium-to-potassium in subjects' urine was a much stronger predictor of cardiovascular disease than sodium or potassium alone.
"There isn't as much focus on potassium, but potassium seems to be effective in lowering blood pressure and the combination of a higher intake of potassium and lower consumption of sodium seems to be more effective than either on its own in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease," said senior author Paul Whelton, MD, Loyola University Health System, Maywood, Illinois.
Researchers determined average sodium and potassium intake during 2 phases of a study known as the Trials of Hypertension Prevention. They collected 24-hour urine samples intermittently during an 18-month period in 1 trial and during a 36-month period in a second trial.
The study included 2,974 patients, aged 30 to 54 years at the start of the study, who had blood pressure readings just under levels considered high. All patients were followed for 10 to 15 years to see if they would develop cardiovascular disease.
Those with the highest sodium levels in their urine were 20% more likely to suffer strokes, heart attacks, or other forms of cardiovascular disease compared with their counterparts with the lowest sodium levels. However this link was not strong enough to be considered statistically significant.
By contrast, participants with the highest sodium-to-potassium ratio in urine were 50% more likely to experience cardiovascular disease than those with the lowest sodium-to-potassium ratios. This link was statistically significant.
To lower blood pressure and blunt the effects of salt, adults should consume 4.7 grams of potassium per day unless they have a clinical condition or medication need that is a contraindication to increased potassium intake.
SOURCE: Loyola University Health System
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